Combined circuit-breaker and switch



A. H. PACKER.

COMBINED CIRCUIT BREAKER AND SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, I917. RENEWED JUIIE I4, 1919.

1,367,085. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

WWW

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED HERBERT PACKER, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, 'ASSIGNOR TO WEST- INGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

COMBINED CIRCUIT-BREAKER AND SWITCH.

Application filed April 30, 1917, Serial No. 165,415. Renewed June 14, 1919. Serial No. 304,279.

To ll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED HERBERT PACKER, a citizen of the United States residingat Wilkinsbur in the county of Allegheny and State of Tennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Circuit-Breakers and Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, con-' cise, and exact description.

This invention relates to circuit-breakers or switches, and more particularly to combined circuit-breakers and switches, and has for its object the production of a combined circuit-breaker and switch for general use, but more especially adapted for'automobile use, which, while serving as an ordinary lighting switch for closing and opening the circuit manually, will, upon the occurrence of a predetermined overload, automatically open the circuit, and in which it is impossible to hold the switch closed with the predetermined overload on the circuit.

The electrical circuits of automobiles are liable to become grounded or short-circuited, and in order that a heavy drain may 'not be puton the battery, some protective device 1s necessary, but very frequently cause for grounds and short-circuits in the electrical circuits of automobiles, especially where a grounded system using the framework as a common return is employed, is the wearlng or cutting through of the insulation on the wires'used in the variouscircuits. Fuses have been used rather extensively as protective devices for such circuits, but these are rather expensive and require frequent renewal, in case the ground or short-circuit is intermittent, and the break in the insulation is not immediately repaired, which is frequently the case. It has also been sugested that a circuit-breaker be employed as t e protective device in'such circuits, but all such circuit-breakers, while remedying one difficulty experienced with fuses, are all open to the well-founded criticism and objection that it is possible to fasten or tie down the resetting lever of the circuitbreaker, and thereby keep the circuit closed while the circuit is carrylng an overload ordinarily suflicient to trip the circuit-breaker.

' It is evident that such a circuit-breaker afused in a circuit, a lever may be moved to close the contacts of the switch and complete the circuit. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined overload, the electromagnet of the c1rcuit-breaker is energized to open the circuitwhich may then be closed by the actuation and release of the lever, the actuation thereof serving to reset the circuit-breaker, and the release thereof serving to close the c rcuit. While the lever remains actuated, when resetting the circuit-breaker, the circult remains open, so that if an attempt be made to tamper with the lever of the circuitbreaker and switch, the only result is the opening of the circuit. If the overload is still present upon the closure of the circuit, resulting from the release of the lever, the magnet of the circuit-breaker will be energized immediately to again open the circuit. This will happen every time the circuit is closed, until the ground or short-circuit is removed.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective of-aseries or bank of combined circuit-breakers and switches containing one embodiment of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the coinbined circuit-breakers and switches shown in tate and move with the shaft 9. In the disk 11 there are two contact points, electrically connected together by a wire or conducting strip 14. The disk 12 carries a wire or conducting strip 15 which electrically connects two contact points together, while the disk 13 is provided with a wire or conducting strip 16 which electrically connects four contact points together. The contact oints of disk 11 are adapted to be engage by and electrically connect together contact springs Patented Feb. 1, 1921.-

19 and 20 and those of disk 13 by'cont'act springs 21 and 22, all of which contact springs are .mounted upon but suitably insulated from the base 5. The contact springs 17, 19 and 21 are tensioned so that each bears against its associated disk. The contact springs 18, 20 and 22 are tensioned so that eachnormally tends to spring away from its associated disk. Contact springs 18, 2'0 and 22 may be strapped together and connected to a common return to battery. This com mon return may be an individual insulated conductor, or it may be the metal frame of an automobile. The contact spring 17 may serve as a terminal for a circuit lead to theheadlights of an automobile, the contact spring 19 as a terminal for a circuit lead to e side lights, and the contact spring 21 as a terminal for a circuit lead to the tail light. )Vhile each of the contact springs 18, 20 and 22 is so tensioned that it normally tends to spring away from its associated disk, means are provided for forcing these springs into engagement with the disks. A spiral spring 25 encircling the shaft 9 and engaging at its Y ends the rear end portion 7 and a stop pin 26 carried by the shaft, forces the shaft 9 forward with a second stop pin 27 against the back side of the front-end portion 6, and with the disks 11, 12 and 13 forced toward their associated contact springs. Each of the contact springs 18, 20 and 22 is provided with a catch mounted thereon but suitably insulated therefrom. These catches are des-v ignated 30, 31 and 32, and respectively cooperate with projections of armatures 33, 34. and 35, which'are in turn res ectively controlled by electromagnets 36, 3 and 38, supported by the base 5. Each of these armatures is suitably pivoted to the side portion 8, and through the action of springs 40, 41 and 42 attached to the respective armatures, the armatures are normally held away from the cores of the electromagnets. In this, position the projections of the armatures engage the outer and upper offsets in the catches 30, 31 and 32, thereby forcing the contact springs 18, 20 and 22 against the sides of the respecthe various elect-romagnets. When any one of the electromagnets is sufficiently energized to attract its armature, the projection thereof is withdrawn from the outer and upper off- The side portion 8 and base 5 serve to "complete efiicient magnetic paths for set, whereupon, due to the resiliency of the associated. contact spring, the catch is forced outwardly to cause the inner and lower offset to engage the projection and maintain the armature in its attracted position.- The contact spring at the same time disengages the face of the disk.

In order that each circuit-breaker may be reset, after operating to open the circuit protected thereby, one leg of a substantially U- shaped hook or finger is secured to each of the contact springs coiiperating with the armatures, the other leg of each hook being positioned and spaced a predetermined distance to the rear of the associated disk. These hooks are designated by the reference numerals 43, 4st and 45. The end of the shaft 9 extends for a short distance in front of the forward end-portion 6, and is provided with a combined handle and pointer- 16 by means of which the shaft 9 may be rotated to open and close the various circuits controlled by the several disks and associated contact springs, and by which the shaft 9 may be reciprocated or moved longitudinally, whereby a disk and its associated contactspring and hook cotiperate to reset an operated circuit-breaker. The pointer portion of the combined handle and pointer 46 cooperates with the designations on the frontend portion 6 to immediately advise the operator of the automobile as to the open or closed condition of the various switches. When the pointer points to Off all circuits are open. \Vhen it points to Dim the middle and rear switches are closed and the circuits of the side and tail lights are completed, and when it points to ()n the front and rear switches are closed and the circuits of the head and tail lights are completed.

Referring now to the operation of the de- Vice shown in the drawings, and assumin that it isdesired to have the side and tai lights burning, the handle will be turned until the pointer points to Dim, in which case contact springs 19 and 20 will be in engagement with the contacts in disk 12, and will be electrically connected through the wire 15, so that the circuit of the side lights is completed. Contact springs 21 and 22 will also be in engagement with the first and third contacts of disk 13, and will be electrically connected through thewire 16, so that the circuit of the taillight is completed.

Assume now that the insulation of one of the conductors in the side-light circuit becomes worn through and the conductor itself becomes grounded on the metal frame of the automobile which is being used as the common return to the battery. The amount of current through the winding of electromagnet- 37 immediately increases sutliciently to cause the attraction of the armature 34, the projection of which is thereupon withdrawn from the outer and upperoifset of catch 31. The resiliency of contact spring 20 immediately causes the disengagement of this contact spring, and the contact of disk 12 to open the circuit of the side lights. The lower and inner ofiset of catch 31 at the same time engages the projection of armature 34, and holds it in its attracted position after the opening of the circuit. To reset the operated circuit-breaker, the operator of the automobile pushes the shaft 9 against the action of spring 25 moving all of the-disks rearward. Disk 12, immedately upon moving, engages the rear leg of the hook 44, thereby moving contact spring 20 with the shaft9. The lower and inner offset of the catch 31 is thereby withdrawn from engagement with the projection of armature 34," whereupon the armature is forced upward by the action of spring 41 with the projection of the armature 34 registering with the outer and upper offset of catch 31. It will be observed that. as long as the shaft 9 is forced rearward against the action of spring 25, contact spring 20 is out of engagement with the contact of disk 12, and can only come into engagement therewith to close the circuit when the shaft 9 is permitted to assume its normal position under the pressure exerted by the spring 25. If the conductor in the circuit of the side lights is still grounded, when the circuit is closed, following the resetting of the circuit breaker, the electromagnet 37 will be energized immediately to attract its armature 34 to again open the circuit. It will be evident, therefore, that .by employing a combined circuitbreaker and switch embodying the present invention, it isimpossible to reset the circuit-breaker and maintain the circuit closed while thereis present aground or short-, circuit sufficient to cause the flow of a current of a predetermined strength.

It will be evident that if itis desired to light the head instead of side lamps, the

. shaft 9 will be rotated until the pointer registers with On.

While a common-operating shaft or lever for.the three combined circuit-breakers and switches has been illustrated, it is obvious that each of the combined circuit-breakers and switches may lie-separately mounted and provided with a separate operating shaft or lever, and that thismay be done without in any manner departing from the spirit of this invention.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a switch, in combination, a contact spring, an armature normally maintaining the contact spring in a predetermined position, a contact member, a lever for moving the contact member into engagement with the contact spring, an electromagnet for attracting the armature to cause the disengagement of the contact spring and the contact member, and means controlled by the depressing of the lever when operated for restoring the armature and contact spring to normal position and for maintaining the contact spring and contact member out of engagement until the lever is released.

2. In a switch, in combination, apair of contact members, a member normally holding the contact members in engagement, an electromagnet for moving the member to an off-normal position to cause the disengagement of the contact members, an actuating lever for the contact members adapted to restore the member to its normal position when the lever is depressed, and means operating upon the release of the lever to cause the engagement of the contact members.

3. In a switch, in combination, a pair of contact members, a member adapted when in normal position to hold the contacts in engagement, an electromagnet for moving the member to .an off-normal position to cause the disengagement of the contact members, a second member when operated restoring the first member to normal position, and means effective upon the release of the second member to cause the engagement of the contact members.

4. In a switch, in combination, a pair of contact members, a member adapted when in normal position to hold the contact members in engagement, an electromagnet for moving the member to an off-normal posi tion to cause the disengagement of the contact members, a catch for holding the member in the off-normal position, a second member whenoperated causing the catch to re lease the first member to permit its return to normal. position, and spring-controlled means operating upon therelease of the second member to cause the engagement of-the contacts.

, 5. In a switch, in combination, a pair of contact members, a member having a normal and an off-normal position, a second member having a normal and an off-normal position, said members when in normal position cooperating to maintain the contact members in engagement, an electromagnet for moving the first member to its off-normal position, thereby to cause the disengagement of the contact members, a hook cooperating with the second member when in its off-normal position. to restore the first member to normal position, and means for thereafter restoring the second member to normal posi tion to cause the engagement of the contact members. p

6. In a switch, in combination, a contactcarrying member, a contact spring, a mem ber when in normal position holding the contact spring in engagement with the contact, an electromagnet for moving the member to an off-normal position to cause the disengagement of the contact spring and the contact, means for restoring the member to normal position, and motive means rendered effective thereby for thereafter causing the rengagement of the contact and the contact sprmg.

-7.- In a switch, in combination, a contactcarrying member, a contact spring, a member when in normal position holding the contact spring in engagement with the contact, an electromagnet for moving the memher to an off-normal position to cause the disengagement of the contact spring and the contact spring in engagement with the contact, anelectromagnet for moving the memcontact, means for simultaneously shifting the position of the contact-carrying member and the contact spring and restoring the member to normal osition, and motive means rendered effective thereby for thereafter. moving the contact into engagement with the.contact spring. 1

8. In a switch, in combination, a contactcarryingmember, a contact spring, a memberwhen, in normal position holding the ber to an off-normal position to cause 'the disengagement of the .contact spring and the contact, a holding catch carried by the contact spring engaging. the member when moved to its ofi-normal position, means for moving the contaot carrying'member, a projection carried by the contact spring and engaged by the contact carrying member to move the catch out of engagement with the memberto restore the member to normal 0- sition, and motive means rendered effective bythe movement of the contact-carrying member for thereafter causing the contactthereof to engage the contact spring.

9. In a switc in combination, a contactcarrying member, a contact spring, man-.

ually controlled rotatable means for moving the contact into and out of engagement with the bontact spring, a member when in normal position holding the contact spring in position to be engaged by the contact, an electromagnet for moving the holding member to an off-normal position, and a finger carried by the contact spring and cooperating with the contact-carrying member upon depression of the manually-controlled means to cause the restoration of the holding member to normal position. I

10. Ina switch, in combination, a resilient contact spring, a member when in normal position holding the contact spring in a predetermined position against the resiliency thereof, a shaft capable of rotative and reclprocative movement, a contact-carrying member mounted upon the shaft, the contact being moved into engagement with the conf tact spring by the rotative movement of the shaft, an electromagnet for moving the holding member to an off-normal position, a finger carried by the contact spring and cooperating with the contact-carrying member upon the reciprocative movement of the shaft to cause the restoration of the holding member to normal position.

11. The combination with a resilientlymounted contact member, a rotatable shaft, and a contact member thereon for engaging the resiliently-mounted contact member, of means for normally holding the resilientlymounted contact member in engagement with the other contact member, electromagnetic means for permitting the disengagement of the contact members, and means whereby the depressing of the shaft permits the reengagement of the contact members.

12. In a switch, the combination with a resiliently-mounted contact member, a rotatable contact member and a shaft for the rotatable contact member, of means for normally holding the resiliently-mounted contact member in such position that it may engage the rotatable contact member, electro magnetic means for cooperating with the said means to permit the resiliently-mounted contact member to disengage the rotatable contact member, and means whereby the depressing of the shaft moves the saidholding .means .to such position that the contact members are permitted to reengage.

13. In a switch, the combination with a resiliently-mounted contact member, a rotatable'contact member, and a shaft for the rotatable contact member, of means for normally holding the resiliently-mounted contact member in such position that itmay engage the rotatable contact member, electromagnetic means for cooperating with the said means to permit the resiliently-mounted contact member to disengage the rotatable contact member, and, means whereby the depressing'of the shaft moves the said holding means to such position that the contact members are permitted to reengage when the shaft is released. 1

14. A switch comprising a pair of con tact members, a member for normally holding the contact members in engagement, means for moving the member to an off-normal position to cause disengagement of the contact members, an operating. means. for

16. A switch comprising cooperating con- 1 meanest tact members, means for holding the contact members in engagement, automatic means for actuating the holding means to cause disengagement of the contact members under predetermined conditions, actuating means for restoring said holding means, and means effective upon release of the said actuating means to cause engagement of the contact members.

17. A switch comprising cooperating contact members, means for holding the contact members in engagement, automatic means for actuating the holding means to cause disengagement of the contact members under predetermined conditions, actuating means for restoring said holding means, and resilient means effective upon release of the actuating means to effect engagement of the contact members.

18. A. switch comprising two cooperating contact members, an actuating means for the contact members to effect engagement thereof, a tripping device to permit disengagement of the contact members, means dependent upon the depressing of the actuating means for resetting the tripping device and means operative upon release of the actuating means to effect engagement of the contact members.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28 day of April, A. D. 1917.

ALFRED HERBERT PACKER. 

